Altimeter / Floor Counter for Charge 5?

[marcusdeshaun]

Does Charge 5 have an altimeter or some other way to count floors climbed? I bought the Luxe without fully investigating all the specs and want to make sure. 

[Michael_Dodd]

Between this and the inability to correct distances traveled that was taken out between charge 3 and charge 4, I’ll not be buying anymore fitbits.  Taking out features from prior versions isn’t a way to operate. As a hiker, elevation is way more important than the stuff that was added.

[Valenziajack]

I'm in love with this app easy beautiful out is walking very perfectly well just I do not have your friend to interrupt here 

[Bj0rn]

Into hiking myself I concur completely. The altimeter has to come back.

[Kaljazeeri]

Hi everyone, 

actually, I got my new Fitbit charge 5, I am facing an issue with Stair Counting Problem it is not counting tie stairs step in the app. 

so please could you help to solve the problem 

regards,

Moderator Edit: Removed label

[JohnnyRow]

Charge 5 does not count stairs; it does not have the required hardware.

[N8teGee]

@Kaljazeeri There is also a thread here discussing the lack of altimeter/floor counting. 

[jonk123]

how come not required hardware?

Charge 4 worked with stairs,  this does not seem like an upgrade losing stairs

[코타리]

Since the Charge HR, I have bought a new one whenever a new charge series comes out. I think I am a kind of 'loyal customer.' I recently purchased a Charge 5 and found out that one of the most favorite Charge features, the number of stairs, is not counting. And after looking around related information, I found that the altimeter sensor was missing. I was very disappointed, and I regretted not taking a close look at the specs when purchasing. And today, I disconnected my Charge 5 and connected my old Charge 4 again. Should I wait for Charge 6?

[LZeeW]

@jonk123   I am also disappointed that Fitbit removed the altimeter in the Charge 5.  This has been a feature since the original Charge.  Sadly, Fitbit rarely explains why it makes certain choices.  All we can do is scratch our heads.

[Bj0rn]

It's what I am doing at least! The charge 5+ or 6. Whichever brings back
the altimeter.

[temesvar]

I had the Charge 4 Lux, and it was way off.  Climbed up and down 5 floors and showed 1 floor. Was at work, and showed 30 floors. Useless. Like 5, has tennis, has hike, and visible in plain sun!

[Bj0rn]

Have the charge 3. And live on the 7th floor. Do staircase runs on
weekends. Works flawlessly. Useful.

[fionac]

If you live on the 7th floor why do you need an altimeter since you must know, within a bit, how many flights you do in a day?

------------

I suspect it is because they had very many complaints about the (lack of) accuracy  of the stair counting.

[temesvar]

I don't. Have a friend that lives on the 5th  floor. Never accurate.So am happy with Charge 5, even without altimeter!

[Bj0rn]

Because the daily goal and the app motivates me to go out and climb those
stairs.

Anyone can go for a walk or a run or a hike or any kind of exercise without
an activity band. It's the gamification of it, the app and the
rewards/badges and the challenges that makes me go up and do it.

Now that there is no counter or leaderboard or anything for the steps
taken.. my motivation drops.

[SunsetRunner]

Charge 5 like Sense watch without floors 

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[Typhoonty]

Man, that is extremely disappointing to find out.

I'm a big Fitbit fan, my family and i love competing on badges as much as anything else. I've had the Charge 2, and Charge 4, and stair climb, elevation tracking is one of my favorite features. I live near mountains and stair climb records keep me really motivated.

I assumed like a dummy that the Charge 5 would also have an altimeter and i bought one the first day they were available. It arrived and needless to say I'm disappointed that i bought it. I've reverted to my charge 4 and the charge 5 sits collecting dust. I suppose I'll sell it but again, frustrating that they would just remove a whole feature without any indication or discussion about it.

Why have all the badges for stair climb if it's a feature that's just going to be removed. Why have individual product lines if a consumer can't rely on that product line keeping its notorious features.

[Annie-Charge3]

@KateFitbit everyone's pretty upset about losing the altimeter. I personally run a hiking group so this is a big issue for me. Before I give up on Fitbit, do you think there's a possibility that the product design team will add it back into a future release?

Regards,  Annie 

[Odyssey13]

Hi @Annie-Charge3  you're seeing the rank that @Rich_Laue has obtained from years of being on these forums and assisting other members. Click to learn more about ranks. What you may see as negative is actually the straight forward truth Rich dispenses. There was a post both Rich and I responded to and that person's posts were removed as it didn't help with the topic of this thread. Maybe that is what you felt was negative? As for future Charge devices having an altimeter, that is something I doubt Fitbit would tell us until the product was announced. 

[Wibby]

I'm so glad you said that!  It made me feel really sad to see that comment.  Someone else (maybe the same person) said the same thing earlier in the thread. 

People joining or starting a new thread on the same topic often miss the fact that it's been discussed multiple times already on other threads and people have been sensitively replying to those for quite a while.

I really wish a mod would pin a thread at the top and make a banner at the top of the forum and under the picture of the Charge 5 on the main page saying there is no altimeter and it doesn't count floors, to protect the unwary from disappointment, as there seem to be new people either adding to this thread or making their own new one about it, quite often.